Mammalian parenting: Biochemical, neurobiological and behavioural determinants

Mammalian parenting: Biochemical, neurobiological and behavioural determinants

books! I!111! II I II1! I I III more physiologically relevant steroids by glial cells from the steroids is needed. laboratories of Drs Robel and P...

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books!

I!111! II I

II1! I I

III

more physiologically relevant steroids by glial cells from the steroids is needed. laboratories of Drs Robel and Perhaps one area that should Baulieu. Certainly this finding have been covered in more depth should prove highly significant in is steroid biosynthesis and metab- elucidating the roles of steroids olism in the brain. One excellent on neuronal function and will chapter is given, summarizing ex- attract much attention in the tensive studies on the metabolism coming years. Had it not been for of progesterone and some of its the fact that Dr Baulieu was a derivatives in various brain struc- participant in the discussions of tures. However, an important the symposium, the topic of glial area missing from this book con- steroidogenesis might not have cerns the de novo synthesis of even been mentioned at all.

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In summary, this book is highly recommended for scientists interested in steroid actions on neuronal function, as it represents a compilation of much recent work and serves as a good reference for many of the studies leading to the development of the field. This book certainly provides a thorough background covering most of the important work in a subject that is beginning to be of great interest to neuroscientists.

Book in Brief

failures in parental care. The is also described. Clearly, the chapters on neurobiology are understanding of neural mechanMammalian Parenting: excellent. Work on the rat and isms controlling maternal beBiochemical, mouse demonstrated that pro- haviour has taken a fascinating Neurobiological and nounced anatomical changes in step forward. The study of male Behavioural Determinants the brain were brought about by parenting was enlightening in edited by N. A. Krasnegor and R. S. parenting in both males and that fathers, especially human Bridges, Oxford University Press, females. In the sheep, a clear fathers, were not simply con1990. £60.00 (xii + 502 pages) ISBN maternal triggering signal to the sidered as redundant mothers, 0 19 505600 0 brain is described in the form of but were found to contribute This well-produced book pro- vaginal-cervical stimulation ex- positively to infant rearing in quite vides an excellent comparative perienced at parturition. The a different manner to mothers. account of the current under- neurochemical consequences of standing of mammalian parental this signal for stimulating maDavid H. Abbott behaviour. It illustrates well the ternal behaviour and cueing ol- Behavioural Physiology Unit, Institute of factory attention to the newborn Zoology,Regent'sPark,LondonNW14RY,UtC usefulness of a multi-disciplinary approach in determining the behavioural, physiological and neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the development and Books Received expression of maternal behaviour. Gerard Addonizio and Virginia L. Richard F. Thompson (eds) The book will appeal to a wide Susman (eds) Neuroleptic Malig- Annual Review of Neuroscience audience, especially biologists, nant Syndrome: A Clinical (VoL 14)Annual Reviews, 1991. neuroscientists and psychologists Approach Mosby Year Book, $40.00 (USA & Canada), $45.00 interested in recent advances in 1991. £23.50 (xi + 167 pages) (elsewhere) (viii + 583 pages) the physiological control of be- ISBN 0 8151 0055 8 ISBN 0 8243 2414 5 haviour, but at £60.00 per hardback copy, most might wait for Yehezkel Ben-Ari (ed.) Excitatory Lawrence Dachowski and Charles the paperback. Amino Acids and Neuronal Plas- F. Flaherty (eds) Current Topics in The initial chapters provide a ticity Plenum Press, 1990. $95.00 Animal Learning: Brain, Emotion, valuable behavioural and evol- (x + 530 pages) ISBN 0 306 and Cognition Lawrence Erlbaum utionary perspective on parent- 43534 9 Associates, 1991. $69.95 (xii + ing, combined with an historical 437 pages) ISBN 0 8058 0441 2 account of how the understand- A. Berardelli, R. Benecke, M. ing of the physiological control Manfredi and C. D. Marsden Yves Fregnac, Zoi Kapoula and of maternal behaviour has pro- (eds) Motor Disturbances II John Findlay (eds) Representations gressed. The second section illus- Academic Press, 1990. £50.00 of Vision: Trends and Tacit trates the important roles of hor- (xvi + 440 pages) ISBN 0 12 Assumptions in Vision Research monal priming and experience for 089445 9 Cambridge University Press, 1991. the adequate expression of $59.50 (x + 349 pages) ISBN maternal behaviour in adult Edward M. Brett (ed.) Paediatric 0 521 41228 5 females. It highlights how little Neurology Churchill Livingstone, we know about the physiological 1991. £90.00 (xii + 895 pages) D. M. Guthrie (ed.) Higher Order control of maternal behaviour in ISBN 0 443 03788 4 Sensory Processing Manchester primates and humans, and how University Press, 1990. £40.00 more work in this area is essential W. Maxwell Cowan, Eric M. (vii + 221 pages) ISBN 0 7190 in order to understand human Shooter, Charles F. Stevens and 2804 3 318

TINS, VoL 14, No. 7, 1991